Hardik doesn't need to be told what he needs to do: McGrath

Hardik Pandya's rise in international cricket has been stead-fast since 2016, when he made his debut. However, injuries have halted his career before indifferent form saw him being dropped out of the Indian squad. But a captaincy stint with the Gujarat Titans, where the franchise beat all odds to win the IPL changed everything overnight. The pacer, earlier in the day was named as the Indian captain for the Ireland tour, where India play two T20Is. 

"Hardik has got so much experience now. He knows what he needs to do. He doesn't need to be told by coaches what he needs to do. He is a quality all-rounder, quality hitter," McGrath, who is Director of Coaching at the famed MRF Pace Foundation here, told reporters here.

"Some games go well, others don't as well. Overall, he knows what he needs to do," he added.

McGrath, whose immaculate length outside the off-stump was a stuff of legends spoke about the art of fast bowling, something that a youngster like Umran Malik might find very handy.

"A lot of coaches think that bowling quick is the important thing. to just run and bowl as quick as you can is not the be all and end all.. Holding your action, bowling good areas, building pressure, taking wickets," he said.

McGrath also felt that captaincy will be a good learning experience for young Rishabh Pant.

"It is about experience as well. He is an entertainer. He has to work out a way which is best for him. The culture is set at the top. you have to have a strong leader, who can lead from the front. It is a good learning experience as well," he added.

About veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been doing well in the ongoing T20 series, McGrath said,"Bhuvi is a quality bowler. He gets movement, very good control and deceptive pace. The experience he has will stand him in good stead."

On MRF Pace Foundation products doing well, McGrath said, "I'm really pleased with how they have performed especially Mukesh Chaudhry. Even the others such as Khaleel Ahmed and Prasidh Krishna have performed quite well on a grand stage such as the IPL. A total of 19 of our boys have played in IPL thus far and that fills me with pride."

(With inputs from PTI)